The project is coming together with Anthony Bregman of Likely Story, Frances McDormand, Raj Singh of Merced Media Partners, Kevin Frakes of Palmstar Media Capital and Ashok Amritraj of Hyde Park Entertainment. Merced Media Partners, Palmstar Media Capital and Hyde Park Entertainment will finance the film that shoots in February. Film is based on the novel by Laura Lippman.The film will be produced by Bregman and Frances McDormand. Deadline readers might recall that McDormand optioned the book herself and attached Lane in 2010, and she has really turned this into something special here.

At 11-years-old, Ronnie and Alice were convicted for the murder of a baby and were incarcerated until they turned 18. Now newly released and replete with psychological problems, each attempts to adjust to life outside juvenile detention… when children start to go missing. As the police turn their attention to Ronnie and Alice, the mystery surrounding the original murder and their roles in it takes the fore.

Raj Singh, Stuart Brown, Kevin Frakes, Ashok Amritraj, and Stefanie Azpiazu. Hyde Park Entertainment will handle international sales out of the Toronto International Film Festival. Craig Emanuel of Loeb & Loeb and Alexis Garcia from WME negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

“Great, female-driven crime movies are few and far between — and one this original and surprising is like a gift. It’s gratifying that so many talented and enthusiastic collaborators agree — from the creative to the financial sides and everywhere in between,” Bregman said.